Preparing for Worship - November 10, 2024

The readings this week remind us again where we need to put our trust - not in ourselves or in our earthly leaders, but in our Lord God and His saving work in Christ. Three of our readings also mention widows and others who sometimes don’t have much in which they can trust, except the Lord, as an example for us.

The Old Testament lesson is from 1 Kings 17:8-16. Elijah predicted a great drought for the Northern Kingdom of Israel because of the wickedness of King Ahab and the people, particularly in forsaking God and His will and worshipping false gods (1 Kings 16:29-17:7). Elijah was taken care of by the Lord through ravens at a brook until the brook dried up. Then the Lord sent him out of Israel to Sidon, to the North, near Tyre, and to a widow, preparing to eat her last meal that she had with her son. Elijah asked her to give him that last food she had, with the promise that the Lord would provide just enough food for them until the drought was done and rain came again. The woman trusted the Word of the Lord, and the three of them had enough to survive by the miracle of God.

The psalm is Psalm 146. The psalmist calls upon us to praise the Lord and put our hope in Him, who “keeps faith forever” for us and “all generations “ who trust in Him. This psalm includes a good reminder for an election week - that we are “not to put our trust in princes” or other earthly leaders who cannot save and who come and go and cannot be counted on to fulfill their plans. We are to trust our Creator God, who can help “widows” and “lift up those who are bowed down” by the troubles of life. The psalm is especially prophetic of Christ, who could heal the blind (see my sermon on Mark 10:46-52) and set us free from the prison of our sins, by His death and resurrection, and the fact that He now lives and “reigns forever” for us, to bless us.

The Gospel lesson is Mark 12:38-44. Jesus warns about scribes and other leaders, including religious leaders, who want honor for themselves and take advantage even of poor widows. Jesus is in the temple and contrasts the offerings of the rich, who have plenty left over for themselves, and the tiny gift of a poor widow, who, out of her poverty, gave all she had. Jesus is showing in this way His concern for such people, like the widow, and their great needs.

The Epistle lesson is from Hebrews 9:24-28. The author speaks of the great sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Himself. He didn’t just talk about sacrifices, but He sacrificed Himself, once for all, on the cross, to forgive and “put away sin.” Unlike priests in the temple, He did not need to keep making sacrifices for sins “with blood not His own.” Christ was offered only “once, to bear the sins of many.” This is a Hebraic way of saying that He died for “the many,” which really means “all.” See v.26 - “once for all.” The risen, ascended Lord Jesus has now entered heaven and appears “in the presence of God on our behalf” - for us. He will come again on the last day, too, no longer to deal with sin but “to save all those who are eagerly waiting for Him,” with the resurrection of our bodies, as well. There’s one more important message in this passage. People die only once, and then comes the judgment, including eternal life for all who die in faith in Christ. There is no reincarnation or a second or multiple lives for any of us, as some religions say. When we die in faith, we are with the Lord forever in perfect peace through Christ.